Chief Administrative Officer, WAI

The Wisconsin Alzheimers Institute (WAI) seeks a Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to partner strategically with the WAI Director and support the day-to-day operations of this thriving Institute part of the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH).

Our CAO provides key leadership that is central to all aspects of the Institute and is responsible for the smooth execution of administrative operational and financial functions. The ideal candidate will combine expertise in budgeting financial management human resources and personnel management with skill sets focused on project management planning analysis forecasting communication and development.

Responsibilities include supervision of the departments administrative and communications and marketing teams as well as coordination of the Institutes budget personnel technology facilities and infrastructure addition the CAO interfaces with teams at SMPH and the Department of Medicine to ensure support for daily operations including human resources pre- and post-award support and other business functions. The CAO will report to the WAI Director as part of the Institutes leadership team and in that role will need to be collaborative professional and able to take the initiative to pursue goals independently. The administrative leader we seek in this position will be able to develop holistic financial and administration strategies necessary to position WAI for continued success as the world of higher education evolves. This leadership role requires regular availability and an onsite presence. Hybrid scheduling options will be discussed during the interview process however candidates should anticipate being onsite a minimum of three days per week and as needed following an initial onboarding period. The initial onboarding period will require greater onsite presence and its duration will depend on the onboarding needs of the individual hired.

• This position may require some work to be performed in-person onsite at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely at an offsite non-campus work location.

• Must provide a valid drivers license. Employees may use their own transportation or receive approval for University Car Fleet usage. Employment is conditional pending the results of a Pre-hire Driver Authorization Check. See (click on Become an authorized driver; then click on Required criteria).

Candidates who demonstrate the following knowledge skills and abilities will be given first consideration:

• Grant & Financial Management: Strong knowledge of pre- and post-award grant administration including proposal preparation budget development and monitoring expenditures.

• Policy Compliance: Understanding of federal funding and compliance guidelines (e.g. NIH and NSF) governing research applications and expenditures.

• Operational & Procurement: Ability to coordinate equipment tracking purchasing vendor contracts and logistics for visiting researchers or academic workshops.

• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication and administrative and organizational skills supported by effective use of digital tools and systems

• Decision-Making: Ability to apply sound judgement and discretion in applying and interpreting laws rules policies and procedures as applicable to the position

• Time management and organization: Strong organizational skills and tools to manage competing priorities and deadlines.

• Directs strategic planning initiatives and establishes unit objectives to ensure appropriate use of financial administrative space staffing resources and alignment with the strategic plan. Obtains and validates data needed for strategic decision-making

• Exercises supervisory authority including hiring transferring suspending promoting managing conduct and performance discharging assigning rewarding disciplining and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

• Provides leadership and oversight in financial operations including developing and administering budgets and oversight of grants management contracts and other funds to ensure adherence to accounting practices and compliance with sponsor rules regulations and law

• Partners with Center Director and other senior leaders to advance the Center/Institute to a position of academic and professional distinction by fostering excellence in all programs and maintaining supporting and successfully renewing appropriate federal state and local designations and accreditations

• Provides leadership in center philanthropic activities including donor interaction and coordination of stewardship and prospect development

• Responsible for effective communication and marketing of unit center activities philanthropic opportunities community outreach and accomplishments

• Provides leadership and oversight of all staffing compliance information systems and facility needs for the center or institute

• Manages research administration activities from proposal preparation through closeout on behalf of a unit. Works with program teams to ideate and draft grant proposals. Reviews and approves proposal submissions contract negotiations project setups compliance and/or financial reporting; coordinates with pre- and post-award staff to ensure sound grants management. Develops and oversees implementation of operations and strategic planning to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements within a school/college/division/unit.

School of Medicine and Public Health Wisconsin Alzheimers Institute WAI Administration

The Wisconsin Alzheimers Institute (WAI) is a transformational leader in world-class Alzheimers research education and state-of-the-art public and community health programs. Cutting-edge prevention research innovative education and comprehensive community outreach are hallmarks that distinguish WAI in Alzheimers disease (AD) diagnosis prevention and research efforts. Through research initiatives statewide memory clinic development education and public health programs focused on both the clinician and caregiver we identify and provide strategies to reduce dementia risk and offer access to effective care. WAI scientists and program leaders coordinate research-based education and events for caregivers and community members throughout Wisconsin and across the nation.

WAI is comprised of several teams that utilize in-house expertise to drive our mission. These teams work collectively to support our public health efforts pilot new approaches to improving access to quality dementia diagnostic services increase our presence through culturally tailored events in the communities we serve and help guide strategic planning efforts to ensure that our academic and business objectives are aligned with our workplace culture.

The starting salary for the position is $80000 annually; but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation holidays and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information refer to the campus benefits webpage.

• SMPH Faculty /Academic Staff Benefits Flyer 2026

• At least 5 years of professional administrative experience with progressive responsibility in areas such as overseeing office operations guiding process improvements and supporting strategic initiatives in a complex organizational environment

• Experience managing financial data including budget generation and development

• Experience with human resource management or supervision of multiple employees

• Experience in higher education and/or research administration

• Experience leading and supporting strategic initiatives

• Experience writing editing and reviewing programmatic and scientific reports

• Experience providing support and guidance on policy budget forecasting and decision making

• Experience with philanthropy strategy and oversight of gift funds

Bachelors Degree preferred minimum

For the best experience completing your application we recommend using Chrome or Firefox as your web browser.

To apply for this position select either I am a current employee or I am not a current employee under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.

Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload the following documents in that field either as a single combined file or as multiple files in the same upload area. Failure to submit the required documents will result in no longer being considered for the position.

Cover letter required
Resume required

Your cover letter should address how your training and experience aligns with the required and preferred qualifications listed above. Application reviewers will rely on these written materials to determine which applicants move forward in the process. References will be requested from final candidates. All applicants will be notified once the search concludes and a candidate is selected.

University sponsorship is not available for this position including transfers of sponsorship and TN selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States a lawful permanent resident a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility.If you are selected for this position you must provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.

The department will not be able to support a request for a J-1 waiver. If you choose to pursue a waiver and apply for our position neither the UW nor UWMF will reimburse you for your legal or waiver fees

Chanel Vang

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAYSERVICE for further information.

Diversity is a source of strength creativity and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity culture background experience status abilities and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching research outreach and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students faculty and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to including but not limited to race color religion sex sexual orientation national origin age pregnancy disability or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodationfor any step in the hiring process (e.g. application interview pre-employment testing etc.) please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR)in the division you are applying make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.